My Genealogy Hound

B. F. Garner was born in the State of Tennessee, in 1836, his parents, William P. and Harriet (Greer) Garner, being also natives of that State, the former’s birth occurring in 1813. They were married in their native State in 1835, she being a daughter of Joshua Greer, and in 1859 they removed to Izard County, Ark., and purchased a farm of 240 acres, and here he was engaged in farming and preaching (he being a minister of the Christian Church) up to the time of his death, in 1870. His wife died in 1860, and three or four years later he wedded Miss Martha Murphy, who died the same year as himself. His first union resulted in the birth of twelve children, six being now alive: B. F., John L., Nancy E., wife of M. D. S. Laird, of Boone County, Ark.; Eliza J., wife of William A. Robins, of Izard County; Thomas H., and Harriet L., wife of J. J. Seers, of Fulton County, Ark. B. F. Garner removed to this county in 1869, having begun life for himself in his native State at the age of twenty-one years, his first business venture being to engage in saw-milling. This enterprise he continued to follow until 1864, when he turned his attention to farming. He was married there, in 1858, to Miss Elizabeth J. Wade, and by her has four children: William L., A. B., J. T. and U. S. The two eldest sons are engaged in saw-milling, on a large scale, in what is known as “Dry Hollow,” Izard County, and are enterprising young business men. Upon coming to the State of Arkansas Mr. Garner entered and purchased land to the amount of 410 acres, and, with the exception of 100 acres, has divided his land among his sons. He has forty acres of his land under cultivation, and since 1879 has been engaged in the mercantile business, at Oxford, and does a business of about $4,000 per annum. He is also interested in the mercantile business with his son, J. T., at Wideman. He supports the principles of the Republican party, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church, as are three of his sons: A. B., J. T. and U. S.